The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-09-08

WARTIME MAKESHIFTS.
Some OF the Expedients for Sup
plying Natures Wants.
Getting Food and Clothing, During the
War, in southern States-How Me-
cessity. the Mother of Inren-
ton, Piled Her wits.

cessity, the Mother of Inren-
tion, Piled Her Wits.
One of the most curious features of
The late war in the South was the va
1,iety of expedients to which the people
resorted to supply those wants which
became pressing. Not until commune
cation with 1.-THE North had been cut
off did the people recognize the fact,
and fully realize it that the South had
been actually dependent upon the
Northern manufacturer for hundreds
of articles in daily use Factories were
few, and these in the main made only
the commoner kinds of tobacco and
cotton cloths. Every article found in
n store in 1861 was sure to be of North
ern manufacture, and with that always
higher appreciation of other peoples
handiwork or talents, was held in
higher esteem than any thing
home made. Each Christmas, in
those days, shoes were given the ne
grocs. A common question was ''Who
made dom shoespn 'Dey wasn't
made,'' would be the reply; ''ley
come outen de store" BY the close of
1861 homemade goods came into use,
mainly from pure necessity. The lat
Ter being the mother of invention, it
speedily followed that in North Caro-
lima inventors and clever inventions
became quickly numerous and varied,
Salt, shoes, clothing and hats were
prime necessities. The demand for
salt was very great. There We're two
sorccs of supply-the sea and the salt
works in Virginia. But these could
do little toward supplying the demand
ut first though later the output was
larger. A sack of salt. which at first
sold for two dollars. rose to thirty dol
lars in gold, and even theif it was
privilege 10 obtain it. Many families
in the interior made salt from the earth
in their smokehouses. This earth had
gathered, in the course of years, much
salt from the meats which were smoked
in such houses in those days. 1t was
dug up and leached in rude ash hop
per, Just as ashes are leached for I've.
A brine, with more or less Strength,
was obtained. This was concentrated
by boiling and then allowed TO crystal
lie. 1t was not the best article in the
world, but it was incidentally salt,
which was the one thing needful. The
Government later took charge of the
salt works and employed specially
trained men in large numbers in the
manufacture of that necessity. The
price was regulated by military rules,
and it became more abundant and of
far better quality.
For clothing, homesDun was the
only wear. In those days rude spin
ning-whecls and hand-looms of antique
pattern were common. Those who had
rclinquished the use of these or who
had used them only in the manufacture
of servants clothing, speedily found
il necessary to use them themselves.
Others were made, with some improve
mcnts in design. and there was an
eager search for dyeing material.
These were as rule vegetable. In
digo, banks of various kinds. etc,
were largely used. The country
weaver who made good article of
brown jeans, with cotton warp and
wool .'iilling," was in great demand.
Many of the wealthiest and most cult
ured women made and wore the
coarsest of home-spun cloths For un-
derwear rough factory cotton or cot
ton made oil the hand looms was the
best thing TO he obtained.
II was said by very old people that
time had been turned back three
quarters of century. and that peo.
pic In the main resorted TO as print
tive methods Of living and preparing
clothing, etc., as were use in the day:
Of the revolution of 1776 Leather
was In great demand, and since 'fherc
is nothing like leather" it was found
that il admitted of no substitute
Many farmers had tan-iroughs' made
ont of large logs or of planks
and large enough to hold a dozci
hides. In these they rudely tanned
with oak bark the skins of their owl
and their neighbors' cattle for upper
hatllor. The sole leather, as a rule
was madc at the regular tanncries
SO very urgent and constant was tn
demand for shoes that frequently th'
hides were notallowcd to remain in tn
irougls longcnough to become tanned
thoroughly. but had TO be taken on
and used while partly raw Tho.
we're utilized while Of a brown or rus
sci color, and were 10. black. At
tcmpts at polishing such leather wer
infrcquent. Tine demand for sol
leather oyertaxcd the capacity Of tn
tanneries. and the farm-houses wer
ransaclScd. for any articles IN whicl
leather was used. Old trunks wer,
cut up, and particularly the ampl
skirts. then ia use, Of saddles II I'll
owner OF such a saddle did not speed
nv utillzo is heavy Aaps for his owl
~, some one cllo would steal them
fhculrsr nisn ssuia net g'sist III